What’s the Real Difference Between CBD and THC?
Cannabis has been part of human civilization for several thousand years. While scientists can’t determine a specific birthplace for cannabis, the oldest evidence we have comes from Asia.
Cannabis is as complex as it is ancient, with a wide range of different compounds inside it, each with a slightly different function. These chemicals are known as cannabinoids, and the two most well-known are CBD and THC.
Why are these two compounds so famous, though? The simplest reason is that CBD and THC are useful, but not always in the same way. We’ll discuss the differences between CBD and THC in this article.
THC
The main difference between CBD and THC is that only one of them results in a ‘high.’ THC is known for being the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, whereas CBD doesn’t produce the same effect.
The same atoms and molecules make up THC and CBD, but they don’t fit together in the same way. This slightly changes the nature of the two substances so that THC is psychoactive but CBD isn’t.
Naturally, this has made marijuana quite controversial, and to this day it’s still completely illegal in 12 states. However, it’s completely legal in 22 states and is only medically legal in 16.
CBD
While THC is known for its psychoactive effects, CBD is known for its medical effects. While CBD isn’t the only cannabinoid that’s been used to treat certain medical issues, it’s quite abundant, and it’s less controversial than THC.
CBD also has a different origin than THC. Both come from variations of the cannabis plant, but CBD is often extracted from hemp. Hemp has a very low concentration of THC, less than a third of a percent, which isn’t enough to cause a high.
In addition to THC and CBD, there are also cannabinoids like Delta 8, a variant of Delta 9 THC. However, since Delta 8 is structured a bit differently, it’s half as powerful as Delta 9, so not as many people use it to get high. If you’re looking for something that’s more between THC and CBD, you can find Delta 8 here.
Entourage Effect
When discussing medicine, something known as the entourage effect comes into play. The entourage effect is a term used to describe how different cannabinoids interact with each other within the endocannabinoid system. The endocannabinoid system is a system of neurotransmitters and receptors in our body that play a role in the nervous system and respond to cannabinoids.
Specifically, the entourage effect states that cannabinoids are more effective in tandem. Medical marijuana is so effective because the benefits of CBD are combined with the positive effects of THC. Thus, the marijuana benefits become that much stronger.
The Difference Between CBD and THC Explained
If you’ve ever wondered about the difference between CBD and THC, we’re here to help. We’ve discussed a few of the biggest differences between the two in this article, but there are a few others that we didn’t address.
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